A New Perspective

You may be surprised to learn that many of my cares and concerns, regarding this world of ours, are now Gone with the Wind. Recent events between Israel and the Gaza-bound flotilla, my husband's return to Iraq, and my acceptance of the disappointing reality that I, in fact, can not change the world brought on the winds of change.

I'm absolutely uninterested in any debates regarding Israel, Turkey, and Palestine. Actually, I'm uninterested in debating period. Mainly I just wanted to share how Turkey's Prime Minister played a tremendous role in my new perspective. He said this: "Psychologically this attack is like 9/11 for Turkey because Turkish citizens were attacked by a state, not by terrorists, with an intention, a clear decision of political leaders of that state."

Holy crap, what drug is he high on? First of all, his statement simply doesn't make any sense. Secondly, it speaks volumes as to just how blind a large part of the world chooses to be regarding the horrors of 9/11; how very little they care. Nine civilians were killed in this flotilla incident. Thousands of lives were taken on 9/11. Not to mention the far-reaching effects still felt to this day, almost nine years later. I'm not insinuating the nine lives lost are less important than any other life lost. But logically, the numbers nine and 2,973 are far from comparable. I'm sorry Mr. Prime Minister. The 9/11 attacks were planned for months, took place on our soil, involved four jets, and targeted innocent civilians. There is no similarity with your situation, that took place in international waters, between one ship (the other 5 had no incidents) and Israel. You say they attacked, they say they were acting in self-defense. There are many sides to the story. There is only side to 9/11. On that day, innocent Americans were simply going about their daily lives. Without provocation, our entire country was attacked and terrorized. The entire country of Turkey has not been attacked. Nothing about your current situation is, as you said, "like 9/11". Your statement is both absurd and screaming with ignorance. Proof that you have no idea how horrific 9/11 was, and you don't care either.

The remainder of my new perspective comes from the pain felt as I sit, once again, without my husband in this home. Where he belongs. I really wish I could be more noble, more patriotic. I don't know how to give any more than I am currently giving. I don't know how to love this country any more than I do. You know I'm nothing, if not honest. And I'm ready to be completely honest. I hate where he is, I hate that he has been sent there. I hate that the Commander-in-Chief doesn't care more. I hate every bit of it. And, I'm sorry it took a deployment to move me to this perspective. I understand this is what we signed up for, I just wish it made more sense. I can't give details or explanations, but trust me. So much of it makes no sense.
None. Whatsoever.

I'm pretty certain many of you will strongly disagree with my thoughts, but here goes. I want our country to take care of our own now. It's time. True, there are starving women and children in third world countries, but you can find starving people in your own town too. You can find homeless, downtrodden, desperate, exploited, and abused human beings in your city. For years I've imagined ways I can get myself to the war-torn Congo. I've imagined all the good I could do, all the children I could "save". Now I've decided I'll try to help here, in my small, insignificant Georgia town. I can't save the Congo and neither can you.

I've grown beyond weary of this country suffering because we have some Superman complex pushing us to get involved and "help" everyone else. Have you noticed this rarely gets us anywhere and garners little more than harsh criticism? Here I will add that yes, my husband has been greeted by grateful Iraqis. Of course it's heartwarming and touching. Yes, they can vote and attend school now. Some amazing things have happened there, but at what cost to our own country? At what cost to our fellow Americans?

I guess I'm realizing this great country of ours is a lot like parents enabling their drug-addicted children. There comes a time when you've done all you can do! A time when you just have to step back, let people make their choices, and suffer the consequences. We need to take care of the poor, hungry, abused, exploited, hopeless and helpless here in our country. My church gives tremendous amounts of global humanitarian aid. I love and support those efforts. But I've noticed, that aid is never given in a way that comes back to harm the church or its members. It is in no way an enabling parent. I want to help others. I don't support standing idly by as people suffer. But it's time for America to seriously reevaluate. Much of what we're doing really isn't working. I'm tired of this country harming itself, and its people, all in the name of helping others.

If you know me, you know I'm wholeheartedly in favor of protecting our country, defending this nation and preserving our liberty. That protection, defense and liberty should start right here, on our own soil. We can't save the world. We can't make nations agree to disagree, or choose to live peacefully. They've been fighting since time began, and they will continue in their attempts to destroy each other until time ends. I would just like to get our own country back on track, financially stable, with secure borders so we can protect ourselves. I would like to make certain America's children are well cared for, well educated, and protected before we set out to make life better for everyone else (something rarely appreciated because maybe they don't even want things to change)...leaving America behind in the process.

I'm not so naive anymore. And to the rest of the world I feel like saying...go ahead, fight, feud, disagree, whatever. But leave me out of it.

Because I'm beginning to feel a lot like Rhett!

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

And I'm also feeling a lot like Scarlett.

"I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy."

"I'll think about that tomorrow."

Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. I'm leaning toward the won't.